EVERYONE (else), when he begins to discuss any subject touching upon sex, states that “I am no prude, but…” Well, I am a prude, or is it a “prig?” I am very uneasy discussing anything sexual. However, I have to do so, at least indirectly. The world imposes obligations upon me.
I have never resolved the question of whether it is better to know bad news, or to be ignorant of it. This would apply only to a situation where nothing can be done to make things better. While you decide for yourself I shall present the bad news. Things are much worse than you thought. Of course, if you are a bad person then the news is quite good.
Recently Todd Akin, a Republican candidate for the US Senate, and an open opponent of abortion, said something about abortion and rape. What he said was PERFECTLY rational, true, moral, sensible, (supply your own series of favorable adjectives, please). However, the negative reaction has been both excessive and, even for Americans, excessively stupid. Akin referred to a type of rape that was “legitimate.” This common use of the word, in a semi-paradoxical way, simply means “real.” No one with a brain (or even one half a brain) has any doubt about what he meant. He meant the forcible type of rape. This is where a woman submits out of fear, or is incapable of giving consent or of offering resistance, as a result of violence. The “problem” is that there IS another type of rape, namely statutory rape. This means that the woman (girl?) did not give consent because she is LEGALLY declared to be incapable. This is similar to the way minors are forbidden to enter into certain contracts. The hot teenager who engages willingly in a sexual action is still being raped, legally. Akin simply drew a distinction between the two types in a casual, and not a legalistic, way.
This has caused a number of official women commentators to declare “rape is rape.” But it is not. The word, when I was young (before McKinley), had the primary meaning of “to seize and carry off.” Later it meant a forcible sexual action. Then it also meant illegal but willing activity involving girls “under age.” The word does mean different actions. Akin was right, proper and prudent to draw a distinction. He may, perhaps, be criticized for not realizing how the Mass Media would react. Had he said the same thing in a more precise way no one could have disagreed.
Here is part of the bad news. It was more than the Liberal Mass Media, which always and ever attacks opponents of abortion, which attacked Akin. Official self-identifying Conservative men and women attacked Austin as an “idiot.” They demanded that he quit the race, and commit suicide, along with his dog. A perfect example took place on “Fox News Watch.” This is a weekly program that examines examples of Liberal bias in the Mass Media. The host played a live recording of the EXACT quote from Akin. Then---literally less than 10 seconds later!---he MISQUOTED Akin and attacked him based upon the misquote. None of the panelists objected to the fraud. Lying and slander, when attacking an anti-abortionist, are always accepted behaviors.
This would be inexplicable… except for one thing. These so called Conservatives are really pro-abortion. They offer their official positions, ever without passion or energy, in order to keep their positions and sell their books to true idiot Conservatives. Recall that in 12 YEARS (72 consecutive months!) of Republican/Conservative power (under Reagan and Bush) nothing real was done to restrict abortion. Add another eight years under another Bush and you see my undeniable point. I have always found the surveys that show strong “pro-life” percentages to be incredible. The actual percentage of the pro-infant population is, I believe, about 10% (at the most). I know most of them by their first names.
American loves abortion. That is the bad news. Here is the good, or at least more tolerable, news. This will make it easier to accept what will happen to her (and us) in the second Bambam administration. We deserve it. Expect more droughts too.